Blue Bloods: Son follows father's footsteps, becomes police officer

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Petal Assistant Police Chief Matthew Hiatt pins on his son Jacob Hiatt's badge at his graduation from Hattiesburg Police Academy.(Photo: Ryan Moore/Special to the American)Buy Photo

When Jacob Hiatt graduated from Hattiesburg Police Academy on Sept. 7, his father was there to congratulate him.

Matthew Hiatt knows very well what challenges his son may face in the coming years as an officer with the Hattiesburg Police Department since he is assistant chief at Petal Police Department.

Matthew had the privilege of pinning his son's badge on him during the ceremony — a no-brainer, according to Jacob, and a proud moment for his father.

"That was a tremendous honor for me to do that," Matthew said. "That's when it really became a reality."

Matthew said he watched his son grow during the 10 weeks of the academy and knew Jacob made the right choice. He said he stepped back and looked at his son from a professional perspective and was impressed by what he saw.

"I already see, being my son aside, some strong attributes that I was hoping that he — or any other individual — would possess and be able to do because it takes a special person to do this job and to do it well for any length of time. That makes me proud."

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Hattiesburg Police Chief Anthony Parker said Jacob, as the son of a longtime officer, comes to the department knowing what it's like being an officer.

“To have these young men graduate the academy is an honor, but to have one like Hiatt, who has grown up in a law enforcement family, being raised by his dad, Petal’s assistant chief, that makes him even more special,” Parker said. “He has grown up in it his whole life, and he has known what it means to be in law enforcement his whole life.”

Seven recruits, including Hiatt, of the 22 enrolled completed the academy and are getting additional experience in the field before getting their own beats with the department. Once their training is complete, the Police Department will be close to meeting its goal of having 107 officers this fall.

“I am thrilled to have these new officers to add to our ranks,” Parker said. “This brings our total number to 104. We are going to continue to grow and add more and we are looking to get the ball rolling on another academy.”

Jacob is working with a field training officer for the next few months while he gets his feet wet, the chief said.

"After that, I have high expectations of him, as well as all our graduates,” Parker said. “They are a really solid class, a solid group that came together as family and performed wonderfully.”

Even though he is proud of his son's accomplishments, Matthew knew his wife and mother would be concerned.

"I knew they were worried because of what this job entails," he said. "The sacrifice that is made each and every day and obviously potentially the ultimate sacrifice. But with him, I wanted to make sure it was something he wanted to do, he knew what he was getting into, what responsibilities and tasks lie before him, and once I saw that (it was what he really wanted to do) then I certainly became more comfortable."

Jacob, 22, graduated from Petal High School in 2014. He earned an associate's degree in criminal justice in 2017 from Jones County Junior College.

After earning his degree he married his high school sweetheart and got a job working at Petal Water Department before starting the police academy in May.

He learned a lot at the academy, he said, like how to handle and use firearms and Tasers, defensive tactics, pepper spray class, active shooter training, how to clear buildings and conduct traffic stops.

"It's always been something I've wanted to do," he said. "Growing up I was introduced to it at a young age. Seeing his accomplishments and him supporting me, hopefully I can strive to achieve those same accomplishments."

"I've always wanted to do police work. Sometimes I'd go on ride-alongs with (my father). One night we were pursuing a vehicle. We were running lights and sirens — I was hooked then. In my mind, I was like 'I'm committed now.'"

Jacob will be training with officers in the field for the next few months before he is assigned a beat of his own. Matthew said working in the field is where the real training begins.

"Now is the time in his career he will start to learn how to become a police officer," Matthew said. "The academy is designed to get you educated on the law and policies and procedures, but you don't truly understand and gain the knowledge of a police officer until you are out there on patrol on the streets doing it."

"I have a lot to learn," Jacob agreed. "If I stop learning on this job, it's time to give it up. I want to be one of the best officers in the department. I want to strive to be the best officer I can be."

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The Hiatt family includes father Matthew; mother Telia; son Jacob and wife Brandi; son Dalton; and daughters Jenna and Emilee.(Photo: Special to the American)

Matthew, 49, never really thought about a career in law enforcement. He had another full-time job and joined the police reserves in 1997.

"I just wanted to be able to give back to the community," he said. "I had been married numerous years and had two children, so I wanted to start seeing life through different eyes."

Once in the reserves he quickly realized it was something he wanted to do full time. Like his son, he knew it was the right job for him almost from the moment he started.

"The very first call for service that I was on was a call that required blue lights and sirens, and I guess you could say I was hooked," Matthew said. "I've enjoyed every minute of it. If I had to, I would do it all over again."

Matthew went to a state-accredited police academy in Long Beach before joining Petal police in 1998.

"I've been here my entire career," he said. "I've never regretted coming to work. I've always looked forward to coming to work each day. I still do."

Matthew was able to move up the ranks from patrolman to sergeant to lieutenant before becoming assistant chief. He's been an instructor within the department and at the Hattiesburg Police Academy and the Southern Regional Public Safety Institute at Camp Shelby.

"There have been a lot of opportunities to expand my knowledge as a police officer and DUI instructor, stop and approach instructor, use of force instructor — those kinds of things," Matthew said. "I've had a wonderful career here."

Matthew said even if Jacob were allowed to work with him in Petal, he's glad his son is working for a different department.

"I want him to have the opportunity to succeed in his own way and on his own merit," he said. "I want him to enjoy his career as much as I have. I wish him much more success than I ever did. I hope he is more of an officer than I ever was."

Matthew married his high school sweetheart, Telia. Both are Petal natives who graduated from Petal High in 1986. The couple has been married 27 years.

The Hiatts have two biological children, Jacob and Jenna, 20, and adopted two more, Emilee, 21, and Dalton, 19.

The Hiatts enjoy the outdoors — camping and fishing — and Jacob also loves working out and running.

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Jacob and Brandi Hiatt(Photo: Special to the American)

Jacob's wife Brandi, 21, met her husband at a football game when she was 14 and he was 15.

"We didn't even have our driver's licenses," the Purvis native said.

The couple, who lives in Purvis, married in 2017 and are expecting their first child in December.

Brandi thought her husband would have a career in baseball, but she started to realize public safety may be in his future when he started studying criminal justice in college.

"I wasn't completely sure until he told me he was going to the Hattiesburg Police Academy," she said. "I was completely nervous. I was like, 'Are you sure that is what you want to do?' But I'm very proud of everything that he's accomplished."

"I've always tried to support him in everything that he's done, so I'm going to continue," Brandi said. "I just want him to come home every night."

"You're going to miss birthdays, you're going to miss holidays, you're going to miss family gatherings," Matthew said. "It's such a demanding job. It's a life-changing experience. I wanted to convey that to him and to anyone wanting to become a police officer."